Friday, February 28, 2014

Sorry I have been a little slack lately by not having as many posts on the blog as usual, anyway I have been quite busy painting a couple of commissions and making more small pieces of terrain. However I did manage to paint these lovely Perry Miniatures ACW Commanders. They represent three Union Commanders at the Battle of Gettysburg - Maj-Gen Oliver Howard, Maj-Gen George Sykes and Maj-Gen Daniel Sickles. I could have based them on separate command stands with Corps flags but I thought they also might look good on a single base together having a little chat?

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Last night myself Brian and Dave got together and played anise little North West Frontier game using Andrew Parr's "Breach Loader & Rifle" Colonial rules. Each side fielded a 750pt army with 20pts left over for special assets. Brian played on the side of the British Empire and Myself and Dave the forces of the National Afghan Army.

The British Colonial Forces were consisted of three Brigades, one Cavalry Brigade (two regiments of Bengal Lancers), one Indian Infantry Brigade (four regiments 2nd Class Infantry) and one combined Gurkha/Highlander Brigade (two Gurkha units and one Highlander). In support for Brian was a nasty belt fed vickers machine gun detachment.

Our fateful Afghans also fielded three brigades, one of cavalry (two Warrior cavalry and one regular cavalry), one Afghan regular infantry Brigade (six regular infantry and one guard unit) and one complete warrior brigade ( two units of skirmishers and two fanatical warrior units). In support we had two batteries of artillery......and they did some good work.

The scenario we rolled for was 'Assault'. This was where both objective markers were placed in the defenders zone and only the attacker could flank march and the the defender had to have two brigades in reserve. Brian was of course the attacker and Dave and myself the defenders of Islam.

Now one would of thought with breach loading rifles, lancer armed cavalry and a machine gun battery the Afghans would have had their arses handed to them...however with some champion dice rolling from Dave and myself we manage to give Brian one of the biggest defeats he has ever received. Both his cavalry and Indian Brigades for defeated in turn and destroyed. Thus his only remaining brigade conducted a hasty retreat.

Afghan regulars move up in support of the Afghan Guard unit in the village

There was a mighty clash of horse flesh on the Afghan left flank as the Indian Lancer Brigade tried repeatedly to break through.

The cavalry clash on the flack of the table went on for at least four turns but saw the Afghan Tribal Warriors slowly overwhelm the Indians and forced them from the table with heavy loses.

The only real victory for the Indian Brigade was the capture of the village....but they only manage to hold for two turns before they were in turn forced out by Dave's aggressive leadership.

After three attempts to bring on our final Brigade they finally arrived and were the hammer against the anvil. Their presence alone forced the Imperial line to fall back and finally give was to a powerful flank attack.

More Afghan irregular artillery deploys and fire canister into the Indians

The great Afghan marksmen take up a defensive position behind one of main stone walls and fire volley after volley into the advancing Imperialists

"Well my dear chap I think we are screwed......care for a Gin & Tonic?"

The Indian flank crumbles

Down to half a section the MG crews stand by their guns

Victorious Afghan cavalry move into position to harass the enemy rearguard

Afghan Regular artillery played a keen roll in lasts nights battle

The last victory for the Gurkha's - defeating a lone Afghan unit, just prior to their withdrawal

Monday, February 17, 2014

I was a little bit naughty today and instead of painting more British Napoleonic infantry for a good friend of mine...sorry Carlo, I made a few pieces of battlefield clutter to throw onto the tabletop. Ever since I read "A Military Gentleman' by John Ray I have been inspired by the amazing terrain and have been wanting to build a few such terrain pieces myself.

So these seven small rock and tree clusters were my first attempt to produce something to replicate the images from John's book. It is amazing what some rubberise horse hair, rocks from the garden and some floor mat and produce in such a short period of time..only 24 hours. Hopefully some of them will be on the table this coming Wednesday. So please enjoy the images regards...Vinnie

Saturday, February 15, 2014

One of the other games we played last Wednesday night was the our very first game of American War of Independence using Andrew Parr's Fortune & Glory Supplement Rules for AWI. The game was played by Dave and Julian on the American side and Terry, Brian and Earl on the British side. Both sides were fairly evenly matched in the number of units on each side however with Morgan's Rifles above I changed their range to 12" and made the Hessian Jager's elites.

The figures all were graciously supplied by John Maguire and the terrain came from my little collection. I did however have to through in some British Officers and artillery from John's SYW collection as he was short, so please forgive me.

The rules played very well for the period and I believe the guys enjoyed the game. In regards to the game the British under the aggressive leadership of Brian and Terry push hard on the American left flank where only two Continental battalions and the rifles held. Six regiments plus the two light infantry units where involved in the assault. The small Continental Brigade under the very skilful command of Julian managed to inflict some very heavy casualties on the advancing British but were eventually pushed back when their centre regiment broke and run from a well supported bayonet attack.

The American Militia Brigade under the command of Dave's command started off well but lost two regiments from a British flank attack. The remanding two units however pushed forward regardless of casualties and almost took one of the American objectives, only stopping short when hit by several rounds of canister.

The battle finally ended with a manor victory awarded to the British.....a pyrrhic victory at most

Continental Artillery line up one of the advancing British regiments

British red coats advance in over whelming numbers and swamp the Continental left flank